Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Another fantastic band out of Knoxville, Tennessee? I am consistently amazed by all of the incredible music that I have discovered this year. Add Letting Go to the already long list of great one. Shimmy & the Burns are Brian “Shimmy” Paddock-Lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, mandolin; Wesley Harless-Lead Guitar; Patrick Beasley-Bass, backing vocals and Gurnee Barrett-Drums. Four guys who know hot sing and play the daylights out of their instruments. I hear a lot of Uncle Tupelo, Lucero, and Neil Young which is a winning trifecta.

Letting Go, the name of the album, is also the name of the opening track. They definitely drew from the Uncle Tupelo well. I can definitely hear a lot of Give Back The Key To My Heart on this one. They must have a lot of love for Farrar and Tweedy since Track 4 is a brilliant cover of Moonshiner. Shimmy And The Burns have a very unique arrangement on this tune. They really got the essence of the song without creating a copy. Perfection! Other great songs include Jimmy (Track 2) about Paddock’s hippie uncle who went to Woodstock and cried when Jerry died. It is a very infectious country number with a great tempo and plenty o’ pedal steel and twang. Southern Summer (Track 7) is a Camper Van Beethoven-esque number. Another great song with a great tempo, lyrics, and perfect harmonies. Black Sheep (Track 8) is a sad song is about Paddock not really fitting in to his family. Although sad, it is still a great country tune with a lot more pedal steel and twangy guitars. Those are some of the highlights but any of the songs on here could qualify. I expect to hear more from Shimmy And The Burns.

Listen to a few tracks off of Letting Go.

Buy Letting Go here.

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

My first impressions were: “Who is Adam Carroll and why are they doing a tribute to him?” Adam Carroll is a Texas singer/songwriter who was seven CDs under his belt. Adam Carroll has the ability to take seemingly mundane events in people’s lives and turn these events into wonderful stories and songs. As research for this review, I started listening to Carroll’s material and I was astounded that I had never heard of him before. I guess it is hard to know about everyone, but Carroll is really good. It is amazing how he can take a small momentary frame in time and create an entire story around it. A perfect example of this is Sno Cone Man. This is one example in a long list of Carroll’s songs where he demonstrates this extraordinary talent.

This tribute album features some heavy hitters in the Americana realm such as James McMurtry, Hayes Carll, Slaid Cleves, and Band Of Heathens, among others. All of the songs on the tribute are great. A mix of folk and country, with outstanding lyrics. Every song paints a vivid picture in my mind, similar to a novel. Not many songwriters have the ability to tell such a detailed story in three to four minutes as Carroll can do. All of the artists on this tribute interpret Carroll’s compositions flawlessly. The last song is performed by Adam Carroll himself called My Only Good Shirt. I have to say this is my favorite. Again this is like choosing between shrimp and lobster, either way you are a winner. Carroll uses a shirt as a metaphor for his career. He pulls it off perfectly and does it in a way that makes me say, “Wow, how can anyone write so beautifully?” Carroll says, “I’m not Viva Las Vegas, but I’m Motel 6 famous, and they always know me by name.” That’s absolutely brilliant writing. A little bit funny, and a lot intelligent. He takes pen and paper to a whole new level.

I am not a huge fan of tribute albums but this one is different. These songs are all actually really good and listenable. There are no clunkers, which is usually the case with tribute albums. Now that I have gotten over my embarrassment of not knowing who Adam Carroll is, I can now concentrate on the music. I am using this tribute as a gateway drug to access Carroll’s works. And you should as well. This tribute and Carroll’s music needs to be heard for the love of folk and country music.

Click to hear James McMurtry perform Screen Door on the tribute album.

Here is the link to preorder Highway Prayer: A Tribute To Adam Carroll. 

 

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

I met Nathan on Sunday night 10/16 when he was playing at Bertha’s in Fell’s Point. By the way, he was phenomenal. More people should have been there to see him play, but that is another story. After he finished playing, we go to talking and he told me no one ever reviewed Alpine Way. Well, how can that be? So I took that as a challenge. Nathan through the gauntlet down and I picked it up. I think this was a win-win, because Alpine Way is an awesome album. How it totally went under the radar is beyond me.

Highway (Track 7) seems to be an autobiographical composition which explains Kalish’s troubadour spirit. He plays over 200 live shows a year all over the country. This song opens up with the line, “I was born to die on the highway”. Spoken like a truebadour. A man who plays from town to town like Woody Guthrie and others. It is a catchy number with good lyrics and vocals. Very nice guitar parts are inner dispersed that add a nice bluesy country feel to this ditty.

Alpine Way (Track 1) is another autobiographical song that seems to be reminiscing about the high school years. Very good production value and strong lyrics. Driving down Alpine way reminds me of driving down the road in high school when we all first got our licenses and sre dreaming about the future and talking about nothing at all. Just spending time with your buddies and trying to navigate your way through this world. He also recalls the loss of a good friend in a tragic car accident. Conjures up a lot of memories for me, both bitter and sweet.

A lot of the songs seem to be about recalling prior events in Kalish’s life, the good and the bad. That is the sign of a great songwriter, someone not afraid to write the memories that are painful. Kalish appears to have no fear as he is very objective and even handed in his writing. He puts everything out there for us to interpret and internalize. There are two tragedies here. One is the sad events that happened in Kalish’s life and the other is the fact that album has gone overlooked. It isn’t too late. We can make up for lost time. This album definitely will stand the test of time.

Click here to listen and buy Alpine Way.

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

The first thing that caught my attention was Dave Perron’s very deep voice. A little gravelly and road worn which works perfectly for this style of country music. Very nice bluesy, rockabilly, outlaw country offering from Dave Perron. Another stand out are the guitar leads on this album. They are noteworthy. There are a lot of players on this album so I am not entirely sure who is playing the lead, but whoever it is does an amazing job. Dave Perron is a Green Bay, WI native who relocated to Colorado and submerged himself into the Colorado music scene for more than 10 years. He has travelled all over the country playing music with his band, The Laughing Bones. Now, Perron tries his hand at a solo project and he produced a winner.

Million Miles (Track 5) immediately touched my soul. It has all of the elements that move me: pedal steel, great harmonies and vocals, and a riveting guitar solo. The words aren’t too shabby either. “A million miles of rail, I have to ride, singing songs that I’ve kept inside, dreaming of a woman that I used to meet, as the diesel engine, it just screams.’ Truck Stop Love (Track 3) is another beauty. A perfect country ballad. It is about romance that blossomed at the truck stop. It is a very compelling song with beautiful harmonies about a one night stand. This song also has a great piano solo that adds so much to this song, turning it from good to great. Unrequited (Track 11) is the perfect way to close out this album. It is about love not returned and the pain that accompanies that. Another tune with great writing and playing. A song that should be heard on country radio, but…Well you can hear it and read about it here. And you certainly should.

Grab a listen to Foot To The Pedal here 

Buy Foot To The Pedal here

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Very nice sounding, well produced album by Eddie Seville. Eddie Seville is a multi-instrumentalist singer songwriter from Connecticut. Seville, a veteran of the music business, has played and collaborated with a number of artists over the years. His music meanders from classic country to roots rock to rock and roll. One thing that is always a constant is solid and thought provoking song writing.

Ragged Hearts starts off strong with A Crooked Mile (Track 1) which is written as beautifully and in a similar style as Greetings From Asbury Park. Definitely has some early Springsteen written all over it. There are elements of “Growing Up” but it is not a clone. Just took some great components from a classic song and incorporated that into his own style. Very strong writing on this number.

“Well, I traded my soul for a bag of fool’s gold,

Somewhere along that trail,

And I changed my name to get into the game,

But I would up chasing my tail.”

Some pretty heady lyrics about giving into something that he is not. Trying to fit into a scene or a situation that he didn’t belong. Very relatable to all of us. I am sure this is a universal theme that we all have experienced at least once in our life time. Seville wrote it and presented it in a very intelligent and creative way. The lyrics are a perfect match for his singing and instrumentation.

The Last Train (Track 9) is another great song with powerful lyrics and vocals. It is about the death of rock and roll and the end of society as we know it. This is an anthem in the making, again with very catchy and thought provoking lyrics.

“So hallelujah and bless my soul,

There ain’t no such thing as rock and roll,

There was a time it rang loud and clear,

But it caught the last train out of here.”

A Zevonesque tune that is very intelligent and most importantly, a great song. It is one thing to have a well written song, but it still has to be sonically pleasing. The Last Train fulfills both requirements.

Love’s Got A Hold (Track 4) is a really nice rocker. No need to explain what this song is about. Seville does a great job of explaining what it feels like when someone is newly in love. That feeling that is pleasurable yet torturous at the same time. Definitely a bittersweet, emotional roller coaster and Seville captures those emotions perfectly in this song. Overall, this album gets a solid A in my book.

Click here to listen to Ragged Hearts

You can buy Ragged Hearts here

 

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

I root for the hometown guys and Cris Jacobs is definitely a hometown hero. He grew up in Baltimore, just like me. He also fronted a very popular band, The Bridge, from 2001 through 2011. I had the good fortune of seeing Cris and his bands quite a few times throughout the years. He has played a number of Dr. Michael Feinglass Cancer Foundation benefits. This foundation is named in my cousin’s memory who was taken way too early by colon cancer. Cris is very altruistic and willing to donate his time and talents to a worthy cause. The one thing had always been apparent, Cris is immensely talented and an absolutely great performer.

Cris’ roots are in the jam band arena, but this album is much more than just a jam band record. First of all, there are no super long songs on this album, which is fine with me. Most songs clock in around the four minute mark and no songs are longer than 5:45. I don’t know about you, but I lose my focus after about 6 minutes or so.

Dust To Gold is a wonderful collection of tunes that span the genres from swamp rock, blues, soul, to country. It is listed as Americana but that only scratches the surface of the genres that are crossed on this album. Jack The Whistle And The Hammer (Track 4) is a standout among standouts. It is a swampy, boogie woogie number that you just can’t help but move to. It starts off a little like a Grateful Dead number ala Big Railroad Blues but quickly evolves into a song that would make Lowell George proud. It definitely sounds like something Lowell George could have penned during his days as leader of Little Feat. Comparisons aside, this number is a classic in its own rights. It is the first song I heard off of Dust To Gold so I knew this record was going to be a good one. Cris does some major league guitar picking on this track as well.

Leaving Charm City (Track 12) is a country ballad about leaving home. Charm City is a nickname for Baltimore, hon. If you don’t understand the hon part, you aren’t from around here. This song could be played alongside Jason Isbell, Ryan Adams, and Steve Earle. Yes, it holds up to those guys. The song is written and sung beautifully. Lovely pedal steel guitar makes this number a classic for sure. So if you thought Cris Jacobs could just play Allman and Dead covers, you were wrong. Dust To Gold proves his talent and diverse musical well he draws on.

 You can get a prerelease listen to this great album here. 

To preorder Dust And Gold, click here. 

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

First of all, the title alone gives me chills. You Want It Darker? Leonard Cohen is almost the king of darkness, singing about subjects such as mental illness, suicide, murder, and mayhem. How much darker can it get? Well if the first song is any indication, it appears he is talking about his own death. In the song he states, “I’m ready, my Lord” which is accompanied by chanting from a clergyman, either a Rabbi or Priest. I will say, I thought the song should have just been Cohen singing or speaking. There are some background vocals that take away from the power of this composition. I think less would have been more in this case. Similar to Johnny Cash’s rendition of Hurt. Either way, still very compelling and haunting.

Cohen can still write very provocative and evocative songs as evidenced by You Want It Darker. There are songs that seem to indicate Cohen’s readiness to die such as You Want It Darker, Leaving The Table, Travelling Light, and It Seemed The Better Way. Other songs seem to reconcile his relationships prior to departing this world with such songs as Treaty, On The Level, and If I Didn’t Have Your Love. Steer Your Way seems to be about the afterlife once death has overtaken him. So, all of the songs are very heavy and melancholy. Not an album you want to play at a dinner party, but still should be a crucial part of any one’s collection. His writing and song composition is still amazing. There are still moments when I listen to You Want It Darker that my jaw drops at the intelligence and profound nature of the writing. A true master of the written and spoken word. Cohen is forever linked to the song Hallelujah, but his works are so much vaster than that one song. This collection of songs trump (no pun intended) Hallelujah. These songs are deep and meaningful and reflective of a man’s life and body of work. Have a listen on NPR prior to the release date. You can go to Mr. Cohen’s website to pre order this masterpiece.

Reviewed By Harry Kaplan

Lovely, just lovely. A little on the poppy side, with plenty of beautiful hooks and harmonies. Also, a little quirky with a punk rock attitude that should be present in all pop music. Definitely a little on the country side as well. The Rugs hail from Chico, California. Whatever formula they have over there is Chico is working because these guys and gals are great. The Rugs consist of the following players: Jeremy Gerrard – lead guitar, vocals; Katrina Rodriguez – rhythm guitar, vocals; Nolan Ford – bass, vocals; Andrew Olsen- keyboard; and, Austin King – drums. Katrina Rodriguez’s vocals pierce right through me. She sounds a little like Natalie Merchant, but I prefer this music to 10,000 Maniacs’. Perfect balance of acoustic sound, keyboards, and electric guitar. The production work on Arrow & Bow is outstanding. All of the vocals and instruments meld together into one instrument. That is also a credit to the talent of the band as their musicianship and vocal talents are superior to most. Arrow & Bow (Track 5) is definitely hit worthy and would see significant airplay if there was such thing as radio. But, since there really isn’t you will have to rely on me for my knowledge and advice. Another standout is Morning Song (Track 6) which is five minutes of spacey and dreamy guitars and vocals. It takes me right out of this world.

So take my advice, buy this when it is released on November 12, 2016. Impress your friends and buy this from this upstanding group of musicians. You can also listen to Arrow & Bow to make your final determination.

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

A real troubadour. A TRUEbadour. Stevie Tombstone plays 250 live shows a year. Always on the road, following his calling. When he is home, whenever that is, he hangs his hat in Austin Texas. His music is raw and very personal. He lives the life, he doesn’t just sing about it. I have heard him called a “musician’s musician”. I never really understood that term completely. I guess it can be interpreted as he should be more popular and recognized, but only musicians are smart enough to realize how good he is. Maybe there is a lot of truth there. I am not a musician, but I understand how good Stevie Tombstone is. His music is performed in the spirit of the great troubadours: Townes Van Zandt, Hank Williams, and Guy Clark to name a few. It is definitely edgy and also contains that punk rock energy and spirit. Just listen to My Bad Angel Eye (Track 13) on I Wish I Was Back In Vegas and you can hear that punk rock sound coming through loud and clear. This guy is the genuine article and deserves some acclaim.

I Wish I Was Back In Vegas is a collection of tunes Mr. Tombstone has been playing for the past 30 years or so. Sort of a greatest hits collection. And I have to tell you, they are great. There is even some appearance from some of alt country’s superstars. I keep gravitating back to Kevlar Heart (Track 11) which is a song about having a tough exterior so no one can penetrate the veil. It is a very sad song, but eerily beautiful and well written. “Take your best shot, I’ve got a Kevlar heart”. Those are some powerful words. Tombstone has a plethora of powerful words on this collection that are entertaining, thought provoking, and awe inspiring.

This link is for listening. This one is for procurement.

 

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Normally, acts will start off noisy and full of angst and get progressively quieter as time goes on. Shovels &Rope seem to be working in reverse. O’ Be Joyful was released in 2012 and was a more straight forward folk, country, and bluegrass release. Little Seeds, by contrast, is a noisy, feedback laden affair. People who liked their earlier straightforward approach may recoil a bit by this one. Me, however, I find it to be refreshing. There are some straight folky and traditional type songs on Little Seeds such as St. Anne’s Parade, The Last Hawk, Mourning Song, and St. Andreas Fault Line Blues. There are also the noisier tracks such as I Know, Botched Execution, and Buffalo Nickel. This experimentation and exploration of new territory is a welcomed change from the straight traditional songs. Don’t get me wrong, I love the straight traditional songs, but I also like variety and a little bit of noise is a good way to break the monotony.

Although the music has changes somewhat, the beautiful harmonies and songwriting has remained consistent. Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, the married duo from Charleston, still deliver gorgeous melodies even with the elevated tempo and noise level. It seems like they may be going through a little “Neil Young phase” incorporating some grunge into their music. As they say in Johnny Come Outside, “teacher says it’s just a phase, and he’ll grow out of it”. Well, I hope Shovels and Rope doesn’t grow out of this phase. Keep a little noise, I say. It worked for Neil, Velvet Underground, and Jesus and Mary Chain. And it works for Shovels & Rope as well. This is another act that seems to be improving over time.

You can listen to the album in its entirety on NRP and go to the Shovels & Rope website to plunk down your $$ and make a purchase.